Three years after the inception of Austrian Audio’s now-globally-recognised OC818, the Vienna-based manufacturer now reaches out to the aspirant end of the market, offering their signature audiophile-grade capsule within a budget-conscious body.
The OC16 is a large-diaphragm condenser microphone, making use of the manufacturer’s “Open Condenser” design philosophy. The highly detailed and transparent sound of the OC series is the result of their patented CKR capsule technology in combination with the “Open Acoustics” construction approach developed by Austrian Audio.
Handmade in Vienna, the CKR6 capsule was inspired by the sonic qualities of a legendary microphone with deep ties to the manufacturer’s past. Making use of recent technological advancements in production, the CKR6 is constructed from newly available materials including industrial ceramics. Ceramics create a highly insulating material, providing the same mass and acoustic characteristics as brass, but which also allow for a more consistent, less error-prone manufacture, lending additional stability and longevity to the capsule over other traditional materials. Every capsule is precisely tested and carefully measured before leaving the Vienna facility.
The CKR6 is suspended within the microphone at three elastic points, designed to keep structure-borne noise to a minimum, allowing the microphone to be used without a suspension spider. This enables certain microphone positioning that would otherwise be ineffective with other large cardioid condensers, such as suspending the OC16 from a cable in front of a guitar amplifier (providing the XLR connector is locked, and the cable strain relief is intact).
The OC16 has an exceptionally sturdy build-quality and thanks to Austrian Audio’s proprietary “Open Acoustics” technology, acoustic interference such as unwanted reflections and standing waves, are eliminated within the microphone, resulting in a natural and distinctly open sound. The microphone’s minimum weight and flat construction allows for mic’ing and precise positioning even in hard-to-reach places.
The OC16 includes a Low-Cut / High Pass Filter with two settings: 40Hz + 160Hz, and can tolerate sound pressure levels of up to 148dB. This enables the microphone to be used without risk of distortion, even when capturing particularly loud sources such as heavy percussion, brass instruments, or directly against a guitar amplifier. These features make the OC16 a remarkably flexible all-rounder for a wide variety of instruments.
Delivered in a practical soft case including an elastic spider suspension, the OC16 sets new standards with an entirely unmatchable price/performance ratio.
Specifications:
• Directional characteristics: cardioid
• Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
• Sensitivity (all directions): 11 mV/Pa
• Equivalent noise level: 14 dB SPL (A)
• Max SPL: 148 dB SPL
• Low Cut filter: 40 Hz, 160 Hz
• Impedance: 275 Ω (symmetrical)
• Load impedance: > 1 kΩ
• Supply voltage: 48 V (< 2.2 mA)
• Main Connector: XLR 3 pin
• Dimensions: 157 x 66 x 34 mm
• Weight: 335 g
